Protection against butyl p-hydroxybenzoic acid induced oxidative stress by Ocimum sanctum extract in mice liver.

Prime focus of the present investigation was to evaluate hepatoprotective potency of Ocimum sanctum (O. sanctum) aqueous extract against butyl p-hydroxybenzoic acid (butylparaben) toxicity in mice. Oral treatment of butylparaben (1320 mg/kg b.w./day) to mice for 30 days resulted in significant (p < 0.05) elevation in hepatic lipid peroxidation, which could be due to significant (p < 0.05) reduction in non-enzymatic (glutathione and total ascorbic acid) antioxidant contents and enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione transferase) antioxidants activities. Co-treatment of O. sanctum extracts in three different doses (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg b.w./day) resulted in significant (p < 0.05) reduction in butylparaben-induced hepatic changes. Oral administration of O. sanctum with butylparaben resulted in dose-dependent and significant (p < 0.05) reduction in lipid peroxidation as compared to butylparaben alone treated group. Similarly, all three doses of O. sanctum reduced butylparaben-induced changes in non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. The effect was significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent. All three doses of O. sanctum ameliorated butylparaben-induced changes, showing maximum protection at 300 mg/kg b.w./day dose. Results of present study indicate that butylparaben-induced hepatotoxicity involves its ability to induce oxidative stress, whereas antihepatotoxic effect of O. sanctum was mainly due to its antioxidative potency.